如何讓別人聽我們說話？
By Robert J. Tamasy
我們住在一個吵嚷的世界。為了使自己受到注意而與別人的競爭是無止盡且不間斷的：收音機、電視、iPods、談話節目裡的人都互相吼叫著。即使安靜的傳達工具也會分散我們的注意力：電子郵件、網路、簡訊。有這麼多讓我們分心的事，還能把工作做好，這實在太神奇了。
面對這些阻礙，我們如何能得到別人的注意力？這沒有簡單的解決方法。喊得更大聲。插嘴並粗魯無禮。做出大膽且奇異的事。可能把別人電腦的電線拔掉。記得「以火攻火」嗎？這句格言今天要改為「以噪音對抗噪音」。
在這種窘境中，當每個人都在用某種方式說話，卻沒人聽時，令人驚訝的是我們卻被告知，甚至承諾，在某個地方一定有人聽我們說話，絕對不會被忽略：就是上帝在天上的寶座。
聖經給我們許多確據，保證宇宙的上帝垂聽我們每一個人的禱告──祂也回應我們。「我們若照他的旨意求甚麼，他就聽我們，這是我們向他所存坦然無懼的心。既然知道他聽我們一切所求的，就知道我們所求於他的，無不得著」（約翰一書5章14-15節）。
在尋求與上帝溝通時，我們永遠不會被按「保留」，永遠不需要留言在語音信箱，永遠不會聽到「忙線中」。那是祂的應許。而且我們不需去一座教堂或宗教的場所；我們可以與上帝談話，在任何地點、任何時間、有關任何議題。
你的事業是否突然急轉直下？與上帝談談吧。你正在考慮換職業嗎？問問上帝的想法吧。你的財務是否處於可怕的困境？尋求上帝的幫助吧。你的老闆是否不可理喻？向上帝抱怨吧。以下是聖經說到與上帝交談的一些事：
上帝垂聽那跟隨祂之人的禱告。向上帝禱告的一個先決條件是只要成為祂家中的一份子即可，也就是透過耶穌基督成為義人。「因為，主的眼看顧義人；主的耳聽他們的祈禱。惟有行惡的人，主向他們變臉」（彼得前書3章12節）。
上帝垂聽那尋求祂智慧之人的禱告。工商專業人士迫切需要的是智慧，而當我們祈求智慧時，上帝會樂意供應。「你們中間若有缺少智慧的，應當求那厚賜與眾人、也不斥責人的 神，主就必賜給他」（雅各書1章5節）。
上帝垂聽那信靠祂之人的禱告。當我們請求朋友的幫助時，最糟的一件事是我們懷疑他/她是否會提供援助。對上帝也是一樣。「你們禱告，無論求甚麼，只要信，就必得著」（馬太福音21章22節）。
上帝垂聽動機正確的禱告。上帝拒絕的一種禱告是出於自私自利動機的禱告。「你們求也得不著，是因為你們妄求，要浪費在你們的宴樂中」（雅各書4章3節）。
勞勃．泰默西是領袖資產協會的傳播部副部長，這是一個總部在美國喬治亞州亞特蘭大的非營利組織。他也是一個有40年經驗的退休新聞工作者。他寫過一本書「最佳狀態的商業：箴言給今日職場的歷久彌新智慧」（Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace）。他也與David A. Stoddard合著一本書「導師之心」（The Heart of Mentoring）。要了解更多資訊, 可上網www.leaderslegacy.com 或上他的部落格www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com以及www.bobtamasy.wordpress.com 。
省思 / 討論題目
你曾否在試著與別人溝通時覺得沮喪？你是否覺得每個人都在說話──迫切地傳達他們的訊息──但沒人真正在聽？若是，你的經驗又是如何？ 你如何處理你自己生活中的「噪音」，就是許多資訊來源不斷地互相競爭要得到你的注意而產生的聲音？你是否覺得這阻礙了你工作的效率？你如何處理這情況？ 上帝──宇宙的創造者──聽我們所有的禱告，並回應我們的禱告。有這個應許對你個人有什麼意義？請解釋這應許對你是否真實。 在職場中我們定計畫、開會、問可信任同事的意見。但你是否花許多時間為你的工作、你的決定、你的需要、或你的方向禱告？為什麼？註：若你有聖經且想要看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
箴言3章5-6節；馬太福音7章7-8節；以弗所書3章20節：歌羅西書4章2節；帖撒羅尼迦前書5章16-17節
HOW CAN WE GET SOMEONE TO LISTEN?
By Robert J. Tamasy
We live in a noisy world. Competition for our attention is endless and relentless: radio, TV, iPods, talk shows with people shouting at each other. Even quiet communications divert our concentration: e-mail, the Internet, text messages. It seems amazing any of us can get work done with so much distraction.
Faced with these obstacles, how can we get someone else”s attention? It is a problem without simple solutions. “Shout louder.” Be rude and interrupt. Do something bold and bizarre. Maybe unplug the person”s computer. Remember “fight fire with fire”? The motto today is “fight noise with noise.”
Given this quandary, when everyone seems to be speaking in one way or another while no one is listening, it is astonishing to be told, even promised, there is a place where we are always heard and never ignored: the heavenly throne of God.
The Bible gives many assurances that the God of the universe hears our prayers individually – and responds. “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15).
In seeking to communicate with God, we are never placed “on hold,” never need to leave a voicemail, and never get a busy signal. That is His promise. And we need not retreat to a church or religious setting; we can talk to God in any place, at any time, about any topic.
Has business taken a sudden, negative turn? Talk to God about it. Are you considering a career change? Ask God what He thinks about it. Are your finances in dire straits? Consult God for help. Do you have an unreasonable boss? Complain to God. Here are some things the Bible says about talking to God:
God hears the prayers of those that follow Him. One requirement for approaching God in prayer is simply being a member of His family, those made right with Him through Jesus Christ. “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer…” (1 Peter 3:12).
God hears requests for His wisdom. One thing business and professional people need desperately is wisdom, and God eagerly supplies it when asked. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).
God hears the prayers of those that trust in Him. One of the worst things we can do is ask a friend for help, then doubt that he or she will provide it. With God it is the same. “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matthew 21:22).
God hears prayers offered with the right motives. One type of prayer God rejects is that which is based on selfish, self-serving motivations. “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3).
Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. A veteran journalist, he has written Tufting Legacies (iUniverse); Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace (River City Press); and has coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring (NavPress). For more information, see www.leaderslegacy.com or his blogs, www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com and www.bobtamasy.wordpress.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
Do you ever feel frustrated trying to communicate with others? Does it seem to you that everyone is speaking – trying desperately to convey their message – but no one is really listening? If so, what has that experience been like for you? How do you deal with the “noise” in your own life, the many sources of information in constant competition for your attention? Do you ever feel this hinders your effectiveness at work? How do you deal with it? What does it mean to you personally to have the promise that God – Creator of the universe – is somehow still so personal that He hears all of your prayers, and responds to them? Explain whether that seems true to you. In the workplace we make plans, hold meetings, consult with trusted colleagues. But do you spend much time – if any – praying about your work, your decisions, your needs, or your direction? Why or why not?NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to review additional passages that relate to this topic, consider the following verses: Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 7:7-8; Ephesians 3:20; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17
